This article provides information about the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie including major cities, ports, communities, public spaces, and other features.
At the westernmost point of Ohio on Lake Erie is the City of Toledo. The city is bisected by the Maumee River. An important waterway for the state and Lake Erie, the Maumee River drains the largest watershed of any Great Lakes river (8,316 square miles).
On the north bank of the Maumee River, Cullen Park offers views of Lake Erie, hiking trails, boat launching ramps, and other recreational opportunities. The park is a popular spot for birding, especially in spring when warblers and other songbirds begin their northward migrations.
Hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), the Biggest Week In American Birding attracts over 90,000 birders from all over the world
Northwestern Ohio is the Warbler Capital of the World, according to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.
The Biggest Week in American Birding is headquartered at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center in Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, OH.
The southwestern shoreline of Lake Erie contains unique habitats that attract warblers and other songbirds as they undertake their annual spring migration.
Along the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail are popular birding areas including Howard Marsh Metropark, Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Maumee Bay State Park, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.
Between Toledo and Sandusky, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge occupies multiple sites along the lake.
At Port Clinton, the Portage River empties into Lake Erie. The Port Clinton waterfront includes seawalls, marinas, businesses, residential areas, Waterworks Park and a public beach.
A restoration project near Port Clinton re-established coastal wetlands with important stopover habitat for migratory birds along the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways.
Just east of Port Clinton, Catawba Island protrudes out into Lake Erie. The area is a mix of islands, lagoons, bays, residential communities, marinas, and tourism-related businesses.
Public spaces include East Harbor State Park, Catawba Island State Park, Catawba Island Nature Preserve, Cedar Meadow Nature Preserve, North Swimming Beach, and Marblehead Lighthouse.
Located just off the shore in Lake Erie are numerous islands including Put-In-Bay, Middle Bass, Isle St. George, Kelly’s Island, and Pelee Island (Ontario Canada). The Ferry at Lakeside Marblehead provides vehicle crossings to Kelly’s Island.
Located between Port Clinton and Cleveland, the port city of Lorain includes a harbor, lighthouses, marinas, and other amenities.
The Mile Long Pier and Lorain Harbor Lighthouse Lookout are favorite areas for photography, ship spotting, and other pastimes. At the end of the west breakwater, the Lorain Harbor Lighthouse is one of the most popular historical lighthouses on Lake Erie.
The port of Lorain was once home to the American Ship Building Company Lorain Yard, Ford Motor Company Lorain Assembly Plant, and a U.S. Steel mill. Active and shuttered facilities line the southern banks of the Black River.
Cleveland is Lake Erie’s largest city and one of its most important ports. The Cleveland waterfront includes a mix of parks, beaches, piers, marinas, recreational facilities, industrial infrastructure, and other assets.
The majority of Cleveland’s port facilities are located along the Cuyahoga River. The river’s sharp bends are a navigational challenge, especially for larger vessels. Highly-skilled commercial tugboat operators provide large vessels with assistance on the river.
At Fairport Harbor, the Grand River enters Lake Erie. On the lakefront west of the river is Headlands Beach State Park and Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve. On the eastern shoreline is Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park. US Coast Guard Station Fairport and industrial facilities occupy the lower Grand River. Just upriver are marinas, restaurants, and residential communities.
East of Fairport Harbor is the port city of Ashtabula. Located on the Ashtabula River, the port is one of the most important on Lake Erie and the Great Lakes. Bulk carriers make berth to take on coal and other cargo.
Near the Pennsylvania state line, the community of Conneaut is located at the junction of Conneaut Creek. Along the lakefront is Conneaut Township Park, Conneaut Harbor, and marinas. On the lower Conneaut are industrial sites. Just east of the creek, Conneaut Wildlife Area includes a mix of swampland and woodlands.